Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "Flag over Yosemite" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Maximum Card for the U.S. Flag Over Yosemite stamp issue of May 20, 1988. Serene and dreamlike in its misty dawns, and inviting all with lush, green meadows and giant trees, Yosemite National Park is among the most beautiful places on earth. People come by the thousands to experience this land apart from the cares of modern society. In 790,000 acres of High Sierra and world-famous lower level giant sequoia groves, Yosemite offers the best of America's natural majesty. Her smooth, granite domes -- polished by 2,000-foot thick glaciers many thousands of years ago -- and her steadfast, immovable mountains with thunderous falls cascading down, leave visitors breathless and awestruck. Thus, it is no wonder, that centuries of dreamers have found refuge in the land now called Yosemite National Park. The Indians called it Ahwahnee, meaning "deep, grassy valley." And Horace Greeley noted it as, "The greatest marvel of the continent." To Teddy Roosevelt, Yosemite was, "the most beautiful place in the world." And to Writer/Naturalist John Muir, it was worthy of his praises for many, many years. Muir first saw Yosemite in a painting in 1863, and was drawn to it. Arriving in 1868, he spent six years haunting the area, exploring its precipices, scaling its spiraling cliffs, and he would write of its unequaled beauty the rest of his life. In fact, it was John Muir who led the fight to make Yosemite a protected National Park, preserving its countless wonders for centuries to come. Image Size: 9.5 x 13.5 in. Overall Size: 15.25 x 19.5 in. Unframed. (B11611)